Business Ideashttps://www.insider.com/category/business-ideas
en-usSat, 25 May 2019 11:54:55 -0400Sat, 25 May 2019 11:54:55 -0400The latest news on Business Ideas from INSIDERhttps://static3.insider.com/assets/images/bilogo-250x36-wide-rev.pngBusiness Insiderhttps://www.insider.com
https://www.insider.com/mark-cuban-advice-kid-start-up-business-idea-2018-7Mark Cuban explains the steps any parent should take when their child has an idea for a business — whether you think it's good or nothttps://www.insider.com/mark-cuban-advice-kid-start-up-business-idea-2018-7
Wed, 11 Jul 2018 10:17:00 -0400Mark Abadi
<p><img class="center" src="https://static1.insider.com/image/5b44ec7e7708e9413c034ff0-1421/mark cuban.jpg" border="0" alt="mark cuban" data-mce-source="&amp;quotShark Tank&amp;quot/ABC" /></p><p></p>
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/mark-cuban">Mark Cuban</a> said it's up to parents to guide their children when they show an entrepreneurial streak.</strong></li>
<li><strong>In his upcoming book "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kid-Start-Up-How-Become-Entrepreneur/dp/1635764726">Kid Start-Up</a>," Cuban said parents can help their children by coming up with an action plan for their business idea.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Parents can also help by setting realistic goals and by encouraging their children, regardless of their business ideas.</strong></li>
</ul>
<hr />
<p><br />Parents can often get in the way of their children's success.</p>
<p>So when your child shows an entrepreneurial streak at a young age, you should take their ideas seriously and let them play out naturally.</p>
<p>That's what <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/mark-cuban">Mark Cuban</a>, the billionaire investor and "Shark Tank" personality, wrote in his <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kid-Start-Up-How-Become-Entrepreneur/dp/1635764726" target="_blank" rel="noopener">upcoming book "Kid Start-Up,"</a> set for re-release in August. The book is a revised edition of Cuban's previous book on child entrepreneurship, 2017's "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Any-Kid-Start-Business/dp/1544041195">How Any Kid Can Start a Business</a>," co-written by Shaan Patel and Ian McCue.</p>
<p>Cuban said that parents can guide their children to success in the business world by helping them set goals and by drafting an action plan for their business idea.</p>
<p>"Parents can support their children's business plans in a couple of ways, the first being coming up with an action plan that the parent and child can both fill out," Cuban told Business Insider in an email.</p>
<p>"The action plan lays out the details such as how many hours per week will you need to work, what materials you will need, and how you will sell your product or service," he continued. "This will help the parent gauge whether or not the business idea is semi-feasible."</p>
<p>Cuban said that by setting realistic goals with your child and encouraging their ideas, you can teach them good business judgment, an important skill at any age.</p>
<p>"Being an entrepreneur means having to learn, focus, and connect to people and these are all traits that are valuable throughout life. Learning this when you are young is especially crucial, and will set you up for success and to be more open to other opportunities," Cuban told Business Insider.</p>
<p>"It doesn't matter if it's the video game Fortnite or making and selling slime," he said. "Finding something they want to learn about and helping them find things to read about sets a natural path to turning that knowledge into a business."</p>
<p>It's an important lesson for entrepreneurs &mdash; both young and old.</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/mark-cuban-advice-kid-start-up-business-idea-2018-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.insider.com/25-artists-taking-tattoos-to-the-next-level-art-design-2019-5">25 artists taking tattoos to the next level</a></p> https://www.insider.com/side-businesses-you-can-start-with-less-than-hundred-dollars-2017-711 side businesses you can start with a $100 investmenthttps://www.insider.com/side-businesses-you-can-start-with-less-than-hundred-dollars-2017-7
Tue, 18 Jul 2017 10:26:00 -0400Catherine Alford
<p><img src="https://static5.insider.com/image/596e1a9b56152c1ace17f4e4-816/29207896200a583341f8fb.jpg" alt="smiling happy" data-mce-source="Egor Slizyak/Strelka Institute/Flickr" data-link="https://www.flickr.com/photos/strelka/29207896200/" /></p><p>Starting a business can be one of the most beneficial tasks you undertake to improve your financial life.</p>
<p>Whether you're a recent college graduate, a busy stay at home mom, or even someone who is retired, starting a side business can generate some extra cash to help you reach your financial goals.</p>
<p>When many people think of starting a business, thoughts of expensive equipment or pricey advertising might come to mind. However, that's not always the case.</p>
<p>In fact, there are many businesses that cost less than $100 to start. I've listed 11 of them below.</p><h3>1. Furniture flipping</h3>
<img src="https://static1.insider.com/image/596e1a9b56152c1ace17f4de-400-300/1-furniture-flipping.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Furniture flipping is actually a really fun business. I've dabbled in this myself a time or two, and it's a great way to<span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://wallethacks.com/make-extra-100-month/">make a few extra bucks</a><span>&nbsp;</span>if you don't mind putting in the time. What you do is scour garage sales, Craigslist, or even the side of the road on trash day looking for furniture that's in need of a little TLC. Then, take the time to fix, refinish, or paint the furniture, and resell it for a profit.</p>
<p>I've even been able to re-sell furniture I bought at garage sales and antique stores for a profit without updating them at all. It all depends on the price you can get it for!</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>2. Uber or Lyft driver</h3>
<p><p>Most people have heard of Uber and Lyft by now because they are the two most popular<span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://wallethacks.com/uber-rideshare-hacks/">ride sharing</a><span>&nbsp;</span>services available. What&rsquo;s great about Uber and Lyft is that there is not much of a start up cost (assuming you already have a car!).</p>
<p>New drivers can earn a bonus depending on the city, they're always trying to expand and you may live in a city with a big incentive. Unfortunately, the bonuses aren't published (in part because they're always changing) but you can always ask them.</p>
<p>There are car qualifications and you will need to update your auto insurance, but this is a business you can do on your own time and your own terms. I've taken many rides with Uber drivers who like it because of the flexibility.</p>
<p>You can also drive for<span>&nbsp;</span>UberEATS<span>&nbsp;</span>&ndash; Instead of driving people, you deliver food. You can do this by car, scooter, or even bicycle.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>3. Blogging</h3>
<img src="https://static1.insider.com/image/596e1a9b56152c1ace17f4df-400-300/3-blogging.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Blogging is a business that<span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://wallethacks.com/how-to-start-your-blog-today-in-ten-minutes/">costs very little to start</a><span>&nbsp;</span>but does take some time to grow. I had my blog for two years before I even made a dime from it, but there are many other bloggers who learn how to produce a full-time income in 6-12 months.</p>
<p>You can learn everything you need to know by reading about blogging online. Some other bloggers take courses to accelerate their learning process. For me, I just learned as a went and only added on courses and the extras once I started making an income from my site.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>4. Homemade meal business</h3>
<p><p>When I lived abroad and started<span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://wallethacks.com/six-figure-freelance-writer/">freelance writing</a><span>&nbsp;</span>as a business, someone I knew also started a business where&nbsp;he sold really delicious homemade meals. He catered to students at the local medical school who didn't have time to make dinner but didn't really want to order pizza for the third night in a row.</p>
<p>He would take orders in the morning for lunch and orders at lunch for dinner, and his business flourished. He was basically a private chef except he cooked for a group of people instead of just for one family. It was a great way for him to make an income while living abroad.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>5. Babysitting</h3>
<img src="https://static4.insider.com/image/596e1a9b56152c1ace17f4e0-400-300/5-babysitting.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>This is probably the oldest business idea around, and it stays popular because it works. I can't even tell you how much money I've spent on babysitters the past three years, but it's a lot!</p>
<p>If you start babysitting when you're younger and gain experience, you can charge more. Parents love to be able to go out to dinner and know that they're leaving their kids with someone trustworthy. Start small by offering to babysit your friends or neighbors' children and then make sure you advertise your services on Facebook as well. Do a great job, and your business can&nbsp;grow simply by word of mouth.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>6. Etsy store</h3>
<p><p>Etsy is a great marketplace to sell your crafty goods. My sister started an Etsy store a few months ago and already earns between $1,000-$2,000 every month. She is doing a great job growing her business, and it's helping her pay for extras like date night or new outfits for her kids.</p>
<p>If you have an aptitude for crafts, you might want to read about how to start a successful Etsy store. With a small investment in materials, you could be well on your way to earning a few extra hundred dollars a month!</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>7. Tutoring</h3>
<img src="https://static1.insider.com/image/596e1a9b56152c1ace17f4e1-400-300/7-tutoring.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><span>My husband and I tutored as side hustles while we were dating and still in college. We both used to help kids with math on the weekends and evenings. Sometimes, we'd get paid as much as $40 per hour especially if we traveled to another town to help kids. This was a nice amount of income for college students,&nbsp;and it allowed us money to go on dates and even save up for a few trips. If you like teaching and helping others, this is a great, low-cost business to start.</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>8. Website designer</h3>
<p><p><span>Designing a website requires some upfront knowledge and skill. However, you'd be surprised just how much you can learn in a short amount of time. There are&nbsp;</span><a href="https://wallethacks.com/udemy">numerous courses on Udemy</a><span>&nbsp;and even free tutorial videos online that can teach you the basics. If you have a knack for design and love being creative, this could be a great budding business for you.</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>9. Auto detailing</h3>
<img src="https://static1.insider.com/image/596e1a9b56152c1ace17f4e2-400-300/9-auto-detailing.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><span>Detailing cars is a great way to make a few extra dollars. You can start this business with a few supplies and some networking. You can start in your local neighborhood, advertise on Facebook, and offer discounts during holidays. This is a great gift people can give new graduates or dads for Father's Day so be sure to mention this when trying to sell people on your service.</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>10. Personal concierge or organizer</h3>
<p><p><span>Having a personal concierge, personal assistant, or personal organizer isn't just for the rich and famous anymore. There are many people who are busy and need someone to help them organize their closets, run errands, or help them book flights. A great place to advertise this service is on Facebook on Mom-to-Mom group boards in your city.</span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>11. Calligrapher</h3>
<img src="https://static3.insider.com/image/596e1a9b56152c1ace17f4e3-400-300/11-calligrapher.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p>Being a calligrapher is becoming a more popular side hustle because people want to hire someone to hand address their wedding invitations, cards, or create beautiful, custom hand-lettering art.</p>
<p>In order to start a calligraphy business, you'll likely need specialized pens, and if you're starting from scratch, you'll likely need to take&nbsp;courses to learn the trade. Luckily, there are many free guides available online as well as many affordable video courses you can watch.</p>
<p>When it comes to calligraphy, it really comes down how many hours you're willing to put into practicing and of course, spreading the word about your business.</p>
<p>As you can see, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars to start a side business. The 11 ideas above only scratch the surface of the types of side business you can start to make extra money. Plus, who knows? You might even be able to turn your side hustle into a full-time career today. Start small with an equally small investment, and see where it takes you!</p></p>
<br/><br/> https://www.insider.com/how-to-find-a-business-idea-2017-4The CEO of a billion-dollar brand shares his best strategy to help anyone find a great business ideahttps://www.insider.com/how-to-find-a-business-idea-2017-4
Thu, 20 Apr 2017 10:24:00 -0400Shana Lebowitz
<p><img style="float:right;" src="https://static2.insider.com/image/58f8c4fcdd089573728b4a81-1177/undefined" alt="neil blumenthal" data-mce-source="Neil Blumenthal" /></p><p>There's nothing magical about starting a company. In all likelihood, you will not have a <em>Eureka!</em> moment in which you discover the next world-changing business idea.</p>
<p>That's not to say you <em>won't</em> discover the next world-changing business idea &mdash; you'll just have to be proactive about it.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/top-sign-its-time-to-quit-your-job-2017-7">A woman who's spent over a decade in HR shares the No. 1 sign it's time to quit your job</a></strong></p>
<p>Neil Blumenthal, a cofounder and co-CEO of billion-dollar glasses brand Warby Parker, recommends a specific strategy for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ramit-sethi-start-a-business-without-finding-your-passion-2016-7">finding a business idea</a>. In an interview with Business Insider at the Success Makers Summit in April, hosted&nbsp;by American Express OPEN, Blumenthal explained how it works:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"Every day, write down a few frustrations. And then at the end of the week, you'll have maybe 10 problems. By the end of the month, maybe you have 40 to 50 problems. And then you can spend time thinking about: Is there a viable business in solving any of these everyday frustrations?"</p>
<p>Blumenthal said he and his cofounders didn't use this exact technique &mdash; the inspiration for Warby Parker came when cofounder and co-CEO Dave Gilboa lost an expensive pair of glasses. The cofounders asked their friends if they'd ever had a similar experience and discovered that overpaying for glasses was a relatively widespread problem.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/importance-of-big-picture-thinking-2017-7">I spent 2 months working with a career coach and realized the most important kind of work can seem like a waste of time</a></strong></p>
<p>But Blumenthal emphasized that "successful entrepreneurs are pretty methodical about the problem they're trying to solve." He went on:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"Sometimes, it's not that they just started it in high school or college, because they've actually needed to live a little and experience a little bit of life to identify where there are problems that need solving.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"For every Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook, there's 30 other entrepreneurs that started their business after working for several years."</p>
<p>In other words, coming up with a solid business idea &mdash; never mind actually <em>building</em> the business &mdash; probably takes more time than you think. A combination of patience and a can-do attitude is a must.</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-find-a-business-idea-2017-4#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.insider.com/shark-tank-barbara-corcoran-successful-entrepreneur-failures-mistakes-feel-sorry-2017-2">Barbara Corcoran reveals what separates successful entrepreneurs from those that fail</a></p> https://www.insider.com/how-to-come-up-with-a-good-business-idea-2016-12Ask yourself 4 questions to come up with a business idea that doesn't stinkhttps://www.insider.com/how-to-come-up-with-a-good-business-idea-2016-12
Thu, 01 Dec 2016 12:40:00 -0500Libby Kane
<p><img style="float:right;" src="https://static1.insider.com/image/58406096dd08953d448b46d3-600-/gilmore-girls-winter-kirk-ooober-1.png" border="0" alt="gilmore girls winter kirk ooober" width="600"></p><p>Everyone has business ideas.</p>
<p>But it's probably not a stretch to say most of them aren't so great.</p>
<p>"It's relatively easy to sit and come up with a list of random ideas," <span>writes Ramit Sethi in GrowthLab's "<a href="http://growthlab.com/guides/ultimate-guide-to-starting-an-online-business/">Ultimate Guide to Starting an Online Business</a><span>."</span> "But without the right framework, you can't tell if these ideas will ever hold any weight."</span></p>
<p>Get started generating ideas with real promise using GrowthLab's questions below:</p>
<h2>1. What do I already pay for?</h2>
<p>"I lead with this question because a lot of us can’t even fathom the idea that someone would pay them for something," writes Sethi. "But when you think about it, we already pay other people for tons of random stuff."</p>
<p>Maybe you pay a house cleaner, or a stylist, or a dog walker, or a personal trainer. You pay them for a service you need — why shouldn't someone pay you? Begin by listing the services you pay for personally, to "open your mind" to the possibilities.</p>
<p><strong>Now list:</strong> 3-5 services</p>
<h2>2. What skills do I have?</h2>
<p>"Remember, there are no bad ideas here," writes Sethi. "Your list of skills can include anything you want."</p>
<p><strong>Now list:</strong> 10 skills</p>
<h2>3. What do my friends say I'm great at?</h2>
<p>"If you find yourself thinking, 'Ramit, I do not have any skills,' go ask your friends," Sethi says in the guide. "It might seem a little weird, but I bet they'll give you a list of at least 3 things you're amazing at — right away."</p>
<p>After all, you can create a business centered around the skills that come easiest to you, like building Excel charts, giving relationship advice, picking the perfect gift, organizing <em>anything</em>, or even <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/felicia-spahr-leadership-charisma-training-2015-4">being charismatic</a> in a crowd. Just because you can do something doesn't mean everyone can.</p>
<p><strong>Now list:</strong> 3-5 ideas</p>
<h2>4. What do I do on Saturday morning?</h2>
<p>Sethi took this question from his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AI4YFDXJFQ">interview with writer and entrepreneur Ben Casnocha</a>, who says what you're reading, watching, and doing on the weekend before anyone makes demands on your time provides a good hint at what you could do on the clock.</p>
<p><strong>Now list:</strong> 3-5 activities</p>
<p>By this point, you should have at least 20 ideas, which you can evaluate further using GrowthLab's free "<a href="http://growthlab.com/guides/ultimate-guide-to-starting-an-online-business/">Ultimate Guide to Starting an Online Business</a>."</p>
<p>And if you're finding your business ideas aren't panning out, don't beat yourself up over it. Not every idea is a winner. Sethi writes that the process of finding a killer business idea starts with a simple truth: "<span>You have permission to come up with ideas that suck."</span></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-come-up-with-a-good-business-idea-2016-12#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.insider.com/we-searched-for-the-best-fish-and-chips-in-london-2019-4">We searched for the best fish and chips in London — here's who came out on top</a></p>